Resilience as survival trait for start-up entrepreneurs

Abstract

This article aims to provide clarity relating to the factors that influence entrepreneurs’ resilience, as this has an impact on the sustainability of their business ventures. The purpose was to identify the factors that will impact an entrepreneur’s resilience to assist them on how to adapt to the ever-changing business environment during the entrepreneurial process. An exploratory qualitative research methodology was followed. A sample size of 16 entrepreneurs was selected. The research resulted in two sets of factors which act as influencers of entrepreneurial resilience, namely self-factors such as passion, personality traits, support systems, vision, belief systems and networks, with the second set, employees, financial resources and venture structure. There is a constant interaction between these two sets of factors, resilience and the survival of an entrepreneurial venture.